Saturday, 8 November 2014

Craigellachie OB Single Malts

Craigellachie is a malt I mainly know through SMWS casks and has just been given a life as a single malt by the producers, Dewars and Sons, who have so far been pouring it into their blends.

The range includes an odd set of age statement single malts (13, 17, 19 (travel retail only) and 23 years old). The 23 year old has gained some notoriety as being outrageously expensive in the UK but extremely well received as a whisky. The ages are all prime numbers – that sets your stall out eh?

Nose – Sweet and hot doggy. Some mineral, cereal heat, lightly metallic and like a hot heating element. Behind this some sweeter, more fecund notes of old flowers, toffee pennies and light coastal peat. Water knocks out the hot dogs and metal, leaving the more floral sweetness behind.

Body – Sweet, rich, clarty and tannic, with some good wood top notes and some pear. With water, sour edges come through and the sweetness is less integrated.

Finish – Long, very sweet and a little cloying, drying notes right at the end and some good wood finally appears round the back of the sweetness.

What’s not good about it – lacks balance in the finish, lacks a little integration there too.

What’s good about it – however this is an interesting, complex and intense whisky, and well worth the asking price. The nose is fine at this price point but the initially delivery is extremely good and leaves you with an overall experience that works well. Recommended.

Nose – More intensely waxed but the peat is back. Hopefully this is going to be a “best of both worlds” of the two before. Waxed wood, elegant toffee, some toasted crispbread and toast and honey. After tasting, wonderfully tropical with pineapple, mango and yoghurt and weirdly, agave and tequila tones.